Da welcomes new Gauteng top cop

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the appointment of Lt-Gen Lesetja Joel Mothiba as the Gauteng police commissioner.

“I look forward to working with him to ensure that policing in the province is professional, effective and efficient,” Gauteng DA MPL Kate Lorimer said in a statement.

“I hope he will bring new stability to policing in Gauteng,” said Lorimer.

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega announced Mothiba's appointment on Wednesday.

“Those that know General Mothiba will confirm that he is a very competent, experienced, and skilled leader and well-suited to lead Gauteng province,” Phiyega said.

Mothiba joined the police in 1982 and served as commander at the Alexandra police station for seven years.

More recently, he was the divisional commissioner responsible for visible policing, Phiyega told reporters in Johannesburg.

Lorimer said she was impressed by Mothiba's role as acting commissioner and the rapid reaction of his office to complaints about the SA Police Service.

However, she said Mothiba did not allow her an oversight visit at a police station before the general elections.

“The fact that he disallowed an oversight visit by myself to Orange Farm Police Station, before the election does not bode well for transparency in the province and will be up for discussion between us.”

Mothiba, who has a national diploma in police administration, a bachelor's degree in police science, and a BA Honours degree, said he was honoured and humbled by the appointment.

“National commissioner and management I promise that I will not disappoint you and I will not disappoint the citizens of Gauteng,” Mothiba said.

He said he would have a meeting with the community safety MEC and the premier of Gauteng to discuss his plans for the province.

“One of the key areas that I will be attending to in co-operation with the provincial and national management is to make sure that we mobilise our community, we increase our service delivery, we are visible in this province,” he said.

He also said a long-term plan was needed to fight corruption in the police service.